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RESIDENCE AT THE SOUTH 



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THE SOUTHEII^^ REBELLION. 



irr T(J NOVKMHKIl, 1SG3, 



WHEN THE WRITER ESCAPED FJROM RICHMOND. 



BY MRS. K. O. KENT. 




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"FOUE YEAES I^T SECESSIA;' 



RESIDENCE AT THE SOUTH 



PREVIOUS TO AND DCRINO 



THE SOUTHERN REBELLION, 



UP TO NOVEMBER, 1863, 



WHEN THE WRITER ESCAPED FROM RICHMOND. 



BY MRS. E. C. KENT. 

ii 



PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 
1864. 



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2i^J 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 



God has given to each one of us a genius peculiar to ourselves. 
Some call this genius a disposition or inclination of the mind. 
Some call it a guardian angel. Others call it a genius. This 
genius is continually prompting us ; beckoning us ; and cheering 
us onward. In its hand it holds a shining light. 

If we give our hearts to God and follow the promptings of this 
genius, keeping in the immediate influence of its light, our hearts 
will glow with genial warmth, our souls will expand, and our 
progress will be onward and upward to the spirit from which we 
emanated. 

We do not follow the promptings of this genius as we should. 
The mass of us follow public opinion, until we learn by our own 
sufferings, or bj the sufferings of others, that it is wrong, and that 
it has led us darkling through the world. 

We should always cherish the deepest respect for the opinions 
of good people. We should cherish due respect for public opinions 
but we should also do whatever our hands findeth to do with all 
our might. 

I am well aware that the narative which I am about to pre- 
sent to you is crude, and incomplete. But, I am also aware that 
it is the best I could make with the little time and talent I could 
command, and that it is my duty to not waste my energies in 
useless repinings and regrets, but to look upward and onward, and 
1x3 keep hoping, praying and doing. And I am led to hope that 



4 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

that the incidents which I shall relate, will present, at least, a faint 
view of the Southern character, and of the Southern country as it 
is now ; and, as it has been since the rebellion. 

Some of the most thrilling scenes in which my son was a 
prominent actor, I have not attempted to describe accurately, 
because I could not do so with the positive assurance of its not 
bringing serious trouble upon persons who befriended us in our 
trouble. 

My son went South from Cincinnati early in the fall of 1859. 
In December of the same year I followed him to Mississippi, where 
he was employed as shipping and receiving clerk at a landing on 
the Yazoo river, and I was employed as teacher in a family not 
far distant fi'om his place of business. 

On my arrival in Mississippi, before the rebellion broke out, I 
was surprised to meet with persons occasionally, who advocated 
secession. 

The gentleman in whose family I first taught advocated it in the 
strongest terms. He would invoke for the " Yankees " all the 
plagues and tortures he could invent, wishing for power to sweep 
them from the face of the earth. 

He took great delight in listening to, and in giving accounts of 
hoiTible murders and other deeds of cruelty, and the relish with 
which he would listen to such accounts, and relate them himself, 
was awfully disgusting. 

According to his own story, lie had been a terror to negi'oes 
during the whole of his long life, being then over sixty years of 
age ; and he had made himself eminently active by hunting run- 
away negroes, and by detecting those who were contemplating 
escape ; and by inflicting upon them the greatest physical pain, 
with the least physical injury. 

He was also very expert in detecting thievish negroes. When 
other plans failed to detect the thief, the negroes on the plantation 
were whipped until he was exposed. Many of you who are here 
to-night can judge of the moral effect which this treatment must 
produce upon the negroes, and the uncertainty of its detecting 
the guilty one. You can also judge of the character which it 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 5 

must develope in the white children who were reared in this 
atmosphere of misrule and cruelty. Yet this man had the appear- 
ance of a gentleman ! He would receive you with a gracious self- 
complaisant air, and he would extend to you such hospitalities, 
that you would upon a slight acquaintance really think him a 
gentleman of the first stamp. He was also a strong advocate of 
dueling. A successful duelist was, in his opinion, deserving of 
high honor and esteem. Indeed, the generality of Southern people 
place a successful duelist as high on the pinnacle of fame as we 
place those who have achieved the greatest moral and intellectual 
victories. 

In the fall of 1860, I was employed to teach a district school 
in Mississippi. In this situation I was to receive fifty dollars per 
month, besides board and washing. The school averaged about 
eiofht scholars. In the mean time the excitement in the South was 
progressing with fearful intensity. 

At the end of four months, when the time arrived for me to 
receive my pay, I was told that there was no money in the treasury. 
At this, the gentleman who employed me, and who was authorized 
to employ the teachers, was greatly enraged. He declared that 
there was an abundance of money in the treasury. He explained 
to me how the money was received, — how much had been received, 
and how much paid out, and although he was, according to his 
own story, a strong secessionist, he hinted to me that it was only 
because I was from the North, " that there was no money in the 
treasury." He said he hated the " Yankees " himself He had 
voted the secession ticket, but he did not believe in treating a lady 
that way, simply because she happened to be a native of a country 
he disliked ; and he denounced those who did so in the strongest 
terms. 

This gentleman was a Scotchman by birth, and of good educa- 
tion, but he had lived in the South for many years. He was 
shrewd, and had acquired a property which might be considered 
quite a fortune by many ; comprising four hundred acres of land, 
besides horses, cattle, &c. But he had only two negroes. I often 
wondered why he did not have a greater number. I did not 



6 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

believe bis conscience forbade, tberefore I concluded tbat be con- 
sidered bimself better off witbout tbem. 

During my residence in Mississippi, 1 did meet witb a fewslave- 
bolders, wbo declared tbat tbey wisbed tbat tbere bad never been 
sucb a tbing as slavery. But tbis was rare. Tbose, bowever, wbo 
bad no slaves, especially if tbey were poor people, could not bave 
uttered sucb sentiments witb impunity. But my employer declared 
tbat be was greatly in favor of slavery. He would listen witb 
great interest to my accounts of tbe advanced state of society in 
tbe Nortb, and to my views in relation to tbe disastrous results a 
separation of tbe Union would bring about, but at tbe close of 
tbe conversation be would declare tbat be was a Soutbem rigbts 
man, and tbat be was in favor of secession. 

Sometimes I tbougbt tbat be really was wbat be professed to 
be. At otber times I doubted it, tbinking tbat, perbaps, be only 
advocated tbose sentiments to keep in tbe good graces of bis more 
affluent neigbbors, by wbom be was considered a poor man. At 
all events, if be bad been known to be a Union man, be would 
bave been obliged to renounce bis sentiments or bis life after tbe 
secession vote passed. 

Soon after I was told tbat tbere was no money in tbe treasury', 
I resigned my situation and went to reside in tbe family of Mr. 

, only eleven miles distant. His fatber was a prominent 

judge from Kentucky. Mr. Vv^as a gentleman in every 

sense of tbe term. He bad received a liberal education and was 
endowed witb a natural fondness for literary pursuits. Mrs. 
was also a pleasant ladj^, mucb more intelligent and sen- 
sible tban tbe mass of Soutbern ladies. Tbey owned fifteen 
bundred acres of land, and nearly, or quite a bundred negroes. 
Tbey bad only tbree children large cnougb to attend scbool, and 
tbey were to pay me tbirty dollars a montb, besides board and 
wasbing. 

Some montbs before I went to tbis famil}^ a ricb planter in tbe 
neigbborbood killed an overseer, in consec[uence of some cbarge 
tbat tbe overseer bad made against bim. For tbis borrible crime 
tbe planter was not even arrested. He was not even censured by 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA, 7 

the mass of people. Bat Mr. denounced him in severe 

terms, and said that if the overseer had Idlled the planter he would 
have been hung. 

I cannot present Mr. to you as a specimen of any class 

of men, either in the North or in the South. He was an exception 
to the general rule. And this is the character of the man into 
whose hands it actually seemed to me that I had been thrown by 
Providence in a time of great danger. His influence was not only 
a perfect safeguard to me, but it extended safety to my son also, 
who was still at the landing on the Yazoo river, about twenty 
miles distant. Persons living forty and even fifty miles distant in 
that thinly settled country, were well acquainted with each other, 
and were therefore considered neighbors. 

I will now return to the fall of 1860. Before doing so, however, 
I will say, I know but very little about politics, and as I think it 
hardly a woman's sphere to know much in that line, I am perfectly 
content with my very small accomplishment therein. But this I 
do believe, that it is the duty of every true friend of the Union 
to honestly, vigorously and heartily support the Government. 1 
cannot see the propriety in times like these of allo-sving partizan 
predilection to interfere with that support. How any man can 
continually be carping at the great measui'es of our administration, 
bestowing ribald jests upon its head, or weakening the influence 
of its generals in battle, by unfounded or malicious charges, — and _ 
call himself a friend of the Union, or the Government, which I 
take to be one and the same thing, is beyond my comprehension. 

I will now call your attention to the fall of 1860. At this time 
the most intense political excitement prevailed. The people at the 
South were divided mainl}'- into two great parties under the names 
of " Whig " and " Democrat." The Whigs accused the Democrats 
of aiming at a sepai'ation of the Union, and the Democrats accused 
the Whigs of being favorable to the abolition of Slavery. To be 
an abolitionist there, was considered the greatest of crimes for 
which death in its most appalling shape was but a slight reward. 

Whig conventions and Democratic conventions were held 
throughout the country. Both of these parties were opposed to 



8 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

the election of Abraham Lincoln, but the Democrats were the 
most bitter and determined. The speakers of the Whig conven- 
tions maintained that the Democrats were working to overthrow 
the Government. 

Only a few days before the Presidential election a Whig con- 
vention was held in Yazoo City. The Stars and Stripes had been 
planted on each side of the stand and were floating in the breeze. 
There were several speakers, and they occupied the stand in 
succession nearly all day. They were all of them eloquent men. 
They admonished the people to stand by the Union. They said 
the probability was that Lincoln would be elected, but his term 
would expire in four years. He would be obliged to abide by the 
Constitution and he could do them no harm. If he had the will, 
he would not have the power to interfere witli their domestic insti- 
tutions. The idea of his doing so was a humbug, gotten up by 
the Democrats, for the purpose of gaining their great point, — a 
dissolution of the Union. 

One of the speakers, after reminding the people of the common 
cause for which their fathers had fought and bled, and of the 
sacred ties by which the Union was bound, pointed to the Stars 
and Stripes and said : " it is possible, — it is even probable, — that 
many of you will never again be privileged to hail that glorious 
banner as the flag of your country." 

And sure enough, that was the last struggle made for the Union 
in that section of the country ! News soon came that Lincoln was 
elected. The majority of the people believed what the Democrats 
had said, and they madly rushed into the vortex of secession. 
The voice of reason was hushed. Designing demagogues stood 
rampant, flourishing the vile banner of disloyalty; and the old 
time honored flag was not again seen, till Grant with his indom- 
itable army, so nobly finished up his Western campaign, and 
opened up the navigation of the Mississippi and its tributaries ! 

After the secession vote passed, the Whigs were looked upon 
with suspicion by the dominant party, and persons with any 
Northern proclivities were hardly tolerated, — in fact, watched with 
suspicion. The most determined and desperate measures were 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA, 9 

adopted to compel every one to aid in the rebellion. In our 
neighborhood it was publicly avowed that no " Yankee" should 
leave the place. All who were suspected of being friendly to the 
North were called "Yankees." A gallows was erected on a 
public highway, with the avowed intention of hanging any one 
thereon who might express sentiments in opposition to the secession 
movement. Everybody feared an insurrection of the negroes. 
The reign of terror was absolute ! 

Persons who had formerly expressed Union sentiments, and, 
more especially, those who were late from the North, had now 
double cause for fear. Besides the common danger of an insur- 
rection of the negroes, they were in yet greater danger of losing 
their lives at the hands of an infuriate mob, instigated by some 
rabid secessionist. 

Any hot headed, half civilized secessionist could accuse a man, 
who was suspected of sympathizing with the North, of being an 
abolitionist ; and accusation was generally condemnation. There- 
fore the most horrible murders were perpetrated in different sec- 
tions of the country. 

In Texas, as you all know, a Methodist preacher was charged 
with being an abolitionist, and he was burned to death with sev- 
eral negroes who were found in company with him. And there 
were people who rejoiced over these barbarous cruelties. 

Two young men, in the immediate neighborhood of Yazoo City 
were strongly suspected of being in favor of the North. One of 
them was missing and for a time it was said that he had made his 
escape and returned to the North. But after a time his body was 
found in the Yazoo river ! 

The other one who was suspected, was concealed in the house 
of his partner until his pursuers gave up searching for him and 
had come to the conclusion that he had succeeded in making his 
escape. Then watching a favorable opportunity, his partner, with 
the assistance of two other gentlemen, managed to get him to the 
nearest rail road station, and he finally reached his home in safety. 

Another young man, while waiting for a boat in Vicksburg, was 
accused of being an abolitionist, and he was, notwithstanding his 



10 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

eloquent entreaties and protestations of innocence, tied hand and 
foot, put into a canoe and sent afloat on the Mississippi river. 
While being tied he spoke of his mother, who, he said would be 
anxiously waiting for him to come home, and he begged that his 
life might be spared for her sake. This touched the sympathy of 
his executioners and he was about to be released, when some one 
cried out, " he's a liar, he hasn't got any mother. Away with the 
abolitionist !" He was then hurried off into one of the canoes and 
sent afloat on the Mississippi river ! I have related this story 
as it was told to me by an eye witness, as fortunately I was spared 
the ordeal of witnessing so terrible a scene. Alas ! what horrors 
would that river reveal if it could but speak ; and how many 
mothers are waiting in vain for their sons to come home ! 

I knew that my son had gained much confidence from the 
planters, by attending to the shipping of their cotton and receiving 
their goods in a satisfactory manner, but I also knew, that much 
doubt was entertained with regard to his sentiments, and that he 
at one time narrowly escaped violent treatment, in consequence of 
incautiously expressing his true opinion. 

A planter,, who was not disposed to pay his debts, and who was 
angry at my son for letting some of his cotton fall into the hands 
of his creditors, took advantage of his having thus incautiously 
expressed himself, and raised a cry that he was an abolitionist. 

He said that my son had been seen talking with Mr. 's 

negroes, and that he was, according to his owm avowal, an enemy 

to the South, and he tried to induce Mr. to join in a plan 

to have him waylaid by his negroes while on his way to visit me. 

But Mr. being friendly to my son, protested against it, and 

informed the gentleman for whom I was teaching, of the danger. 
He went directly to this demon, and in a peremptory manner 
gave him to understand that he would surely be held accountable 
for any evil that might befall my son. This man was, in conse- 
quence of his dishonesty, unpopular in the neighborhood, and the 
gentleman for whom I was teaching assured me that my son was 
in no danger. 

Still I suffered dreadfully with fear for his safety, and even for 



^77 

FOUli YEARS IN SECESSIA. 11 ^ 

his life. With the exception of a very few families, I felt that we 
were alone in the midst of our mortal foes. Some few, in Yazoo 
City, who had formerly befriended us, were themselves, for that 
reason suspected, and in our terror we were as strangers to each 
other. Finally the most desperate charactei-s volunteered and left 
the country. Three companies had been sent from- Yazoo City. 
Those who remained had been formed into home guards. Fears 
of an insurrection of the negroes were dispelled, and the country 
assumed a more peaceful appearance. 

My health, which had been poor for many months, entirely 
failed. My son's business at the landing was dull ; and I finally 
ventured to say that in 'consequence of my poor health, I wanted 
to go to Virginia, and I wished to take my sou with me. The 
gentleman and' lady for whom I was teaching protested against it, 
saying that we would not be safe among those who did not know 
us. The physician who was attending me, and whom I shall call 
Doctor B., was a Virginian, and he thought otherwise. He said I 
would find the climate of Virginia delightful, and that I would 
rapidly recover strength, even while on my journey. He gave me 
letters to his friends who were living there, and he procured other 
letters for me from a legal gentleman, who was also a Virginian. 
I gave him a report of the district school I had taught, an account 
of the money that was due me for teaching this school, and an 
order to draw my pay. The money which was due was soon 
handed over. My son settled up his business, and in September, 
1861, we left Mississippi for Virginia. I then began to hope that 
we' should be able to get back to the North, At Charlottesville, 
where we spent the first winter, we were received with kindness 
and confidence. Doctor B, and the lawyer had, besides recom- 
mending us highly in their letters, said that we were loyal to the 
South. I knew very well that it was these letters which called 
forth the confidence, and I did not dare to even mention the North, 
much less to disavow the impression made. The roads about 
Charlottesville were thronged with soldiers, who were picketed at 
every station and every cross road, and it was evident that it 
would only be getting my son into diflBiculty to attempt to return 



12 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

to the North without the aid of some influential persons. We 
were, therefore, obliged to wait. 

The next spring, 1862, the rebels, after having been driven from 
Manassas, and finding that the Union forces were marching towards 
Richmond, with a prospect of capturing that city, were panic- 
stricken. Detective officers were picking up men wherever they 
could be found, and forcing them into the rebel ranks. My son, 
with others, was marched off to a company at the point of the 
bayonet He, however, succeeded in slipping away from the ofii- 
cers before he was examined or mustered into service. We then 
went to Richmond, hoping that the city would soon fall into the 
hands of the Union forces, and thus allow us to return home. 

The inhabitants of Richmond were then, to all outward appear- 
ances, in favor of the rebellion. Many of the soldiers and oflicers, 
from the more Southern States, manifested bitter hatred toward 
the citizens, who, they said, were "Yankees." But the mass of 
the people seemed to think that, as a matter of course, everybody 
was in favor of the rebellion, and that it was not worth while to 
say much about it 

My Northern accent and manner, which had proved so effectual 
in Mississippi, and even in Charlottesville, in some instances, in 
keeping people at a distance, as Minerva's shield did in protecting 
^neas from the arrows of the Etrurians, was no longer a disad- 
vantage. 

I soon secured for myself a situation to teach in a good family, 
and I also secured a place for my son in the immediate vicinity of 
Richmond, where I hoped he would not be molested. The lady 
in whose family I was employed to teach, said that she never saw 
a Northern person whom she did not like. She said that her hus- 
band was a strong secessionist, but she could not understand what 
advantage it would bring to the country, and she, for one, would 
be glad for peace on any terms. As I became acquainted, I found 
that the gi'eat mass of the community were heartily tired of the 
war, and that nearly all, except the office-holders, would be glad 
for peace on any terms. 

For several weeks previous to the great battle before Richmond) 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 13 

in 1862, provisions were very scarce. There was no way of getting 
them in from the country, in consequence of the position which 
the Union forces occupied ; and it was feared by some, that it was 
their intention to keep the city besieged until famine compelled the 
authorities to surrender, and at that time it was confidently expected 
that the city would be obliged to surrender. Jeff. Davis, his Cabinet, 
and many of the prominent citizens, left the city. The Government 
stores, Post Office, Telegraph Office, &c., were removed to some place 
in the interior, (to Denville, Ithink, but am not quite certain.) The 
city authorities issued an order, saying that if the " Yankees " 
overpowered the Confederate troops, the city would be shelled, 
as they had determined not to surrender upon any conditions 
whatever. 

Day after day, and week after week, we were expecting, and 
some of us anxiously hoping for, the commencement of the attack 
Night after night, I watched the signal lights on the bluff between 
Richmond and that part of the city called Eockets. Finally, the 
long-expected battle commenced. The roar of the cannon, which 
was distinctly heard in Richmond, M'as a relief to the inhabitants. 
That sound would frighten away the gaunt form of famine, which 
had for weeks been hovering around and over the city ; and I do 
believe that the majority of the citizens, at this time, heartily 
wished success to the Union arms. 

One evening I walked out, accompanied by several ladies and 
gentlemen, in the direction from whence proceeded the noise of 
the cannon. "We walked a mile 6r more from the city, until we 
could distinctly hear the noise of the small arms. There we 
stopped and listened, some of us with breathless anxiety, to ascer- 
tain whether the noise of the guns was advancing or receding. 
The noise increased, and before we returned to the city, we were 
confident that the Union forces were advancing. We then beg-an 
to foi-m plans for dodging the shells, and for the reception of the 
"Yankees." One lady called them " her brothers," and said that 
she had long been waiting for them to come ; and that if they 
would only bring her something good to eat, she would give them 
a cordial welcome. She said, moreover, that she would nurse the 



14 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

wounded, and do everything in her power for tlieir relief and 
comfort 

Another lady thought it was a pity that the city authorities had 
not established " dodging schools " for the people over whom they 
exercised such fatherly care, in order that they might practice 
"dodging," and thus stand some little chance of saving their lives, 
if not their property, by dodging the shells. 

I had become so accustomed to terrible sights and sounds, that 
I scarcely feared the shells, and I felt that I would gladly risk all 
the damage they might do, rather than not have the city taken. 

During the several days in which the battle raged, couriers were 
continually bringing in reports, — now that the Union forces were 
advancing, and again that they were retreating. At length news 
came that they had been routed with great slaughter, and that the 
Confederate army had gained a great and decisive victory. This 
news was received with great excitement, but not with the un- 
feigned rejoicing with which the news of the battle of Manassas 
was received in Mississippi, July, 1861. It was publicly said that 
the majority of the people in Richmond were inwardly mourning 
over the defeat of the "Yankees," and that they were vainly 
striving to conceal their true sentiments. 

People from different rebel States flocked into Richmond, in 
search of their friends who had been killed or wounded in battle. 
Ladies w^ho, at the commencement of the war, hated anything that 
reminded them of a "Yankee," and who practiced shooting for 
the avowed purpose of shooting the Yankees themselves in case 
the men were defeated, were completely subdued when they found 
that their sick and wounded friends, who fell into the hands of 
the Yankees, were more kindly cared for than those who were at 
the hospitals in Richmond, or any place with their own men ; and 
as 1 sympathized with them, and wept with some of them over 
their dead and dying, mj^ Northern accent was no longer displeasing. 

One lady from Alabama, to whom I had rendered aid, and with 
whom I had sympathized and wept over her dead son, voluntarily 
acknowledged, with much feeling and regret, that if sh^ had met 
me in her neighborhood at the commencement of the war, she 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 15 

would have shunned me. "But," said she, " we have long since 
learned that our leaders do not care for us ; that they are cruel to 
our sick and wounded, while those who fall into the hands of the 
Yankees are kindly treated." 

The people then turned their attention to the wounded soldiers, 
who were brought into the city by hundreds, and even by thou- 
sands. The public buildings, tobacco factories, and some of the 
stores, were taken for hospitals. For a time the mortality among 
the soldiers was so great, that it was difficult to procure decent 
burial for the dead. In the vicinity of the soLliers' burying- 
ground, which is, perhaps, a mile from Richmond, the air for some 
distance around was so bad, that it was very unpleasant to pass. 

I walked out towards the burying-ground several times, but 
found it so unpleasant that I did not go very near, excepting on 
one occasion. That was late in the fall, the mortality had some- 
what subsided, but even then I found it so unpleasant, that I only 
walked through a corner of the ground, and then hurried away. 
At several places there were men digging graves, and coffins 
containing dead bodies were piled one on top of the other. 

Their usual manner of conveying the bodies of dead soldiers to 
the grave, was in lumber wagons with the coffins filled up like 
ordinary boxes of goods. For example, a man who was employed 
for that business, would drive up to a hospital and take all the 
dead from the dead-house, providing he could pile them in his 
wagon. 

The Union soldiers who were brought in during, and soon after 
the gi'cat battles before Richmond, were almost entirely uncared for. 

One day, towards evening, I was told that a train of Union 
soldiers, wounded, had been brought to the Richmond and York 
River Depot, in open freight cars, and that they had been left all 
day in the broiling sun with their wounds undressed, and with no 
one to give them so much as a drink of cold water, I went to the 
depot with a gentleman who was at that time assistant surgeon in 
one of the hospitals. During the day one of the soldiers had 
died, and I noticed several who seemed to be suffering the most 
intense agony. I made a move to go near and speak to one of 



16 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

them, but was motioned back by one of the guards. I then turned 
to the doctor and asked him if those men were going to be left 
there to die without even so much as a drink of cold water. He 
inquired of the guard, who told him that some bread and water 
had been sent for. 

Wc waited until it came, and I saw the water as well as the 
bread sold to the prisoners. I then turned away, wishing in my 
heart that the world would come to an end so that all this dreadful 
suffering might be ended at once. 

About this time a squad of Louisianians captured twenty Union 
soldiers in the vicinity of Eichmond, and brought only three of 
them to tlie city. It was said that the remaining seventeen had 
been murdered by their captors. And this was related as a praise- 
worthy act. 

Such was the reign of terror in Richmond that many who in 
their hearts were loyal to the Union, were actually forced to speak 
of things of that kind indifferently, but I could detect in their 
tones disapproval and horror of such barbarity. 

I tried to comfort myself with the thought that these poor boys 
who had been so cruelly murdered were then beyond the reach of 
suffering. But their graves were unmarked. Their names were 
unknown. And I wept when I thought of their friends at home, 
who would probably never learn their fate, and who would 
anxiously, and wearily, and oh ! vainly wait for them to return ! 

The first of February, 1863, my son was conscripted, and as he 
refused to enter the rebel service, he was put into the conscript 
prison known by the name of Castle Thunder. 

There were men who had been uuprisoned many months, for no 
crimes but refusing to rebel against their government, and to 
fight against their own country. 

I wrote to Jeff. Davis, Senator Wigfall, and others, and I called 
upon them many times, and implored them to let me keep my 
son. I contended that we had always abided by the law, and that 
we intended to respect the laws of whatever country we resided 
in ; but we were both of us conscientiously opposed to fighting. 
That my son had never voted. That we knew nothing about 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 17 

politics or war, and that we wanted to know nothing about them. 
We only wanted to live peaceably in the world where God had 
placed us. 

In one of my letters to Jeff. Davis, I told him that my only son, 
who was the only near relation I had in the world, had been 
wrested from me and confined in prison like a criminal, and I 
asked to know of what crimes he was guilty, and what law he had 
violated. 

After calling upon Jeff. Davis several times I was at last per- 
mitted to see liim. He received me very graciously, and appeared 
very much inclined to reason, but the reason was all on his own 
side. He said he was sui-prised that I wanted to keep my son out 
of the army. Other mothers were obliged to let their sons go, 
and I must see that he had no right to make an exception in my 
case. He would be glad to give an order for my son's release, 
but he could not do so upon any conditions excepting that he 
should go to the company to which he had been assigned, and be 
a good soldier. This my son refused to do, consequently he was 
retained in prison. 

The rations of the prisoners consisted of bread and meat in 
quantities not as much as it would require to feed me, hence many 
were actually obliged to join the army to keep fi'om starving. 

The meat which they had was very poor. My son was under 
impression that it was neither beef, mutton nor pork, and that it 
had not been killed in the usual way of killing meat, and there- 
fore he did not draw any, but instead he drew a double allowance 
of bread, which was nearly as much as he needed, excepting on 
Mondays. Saturdays they drew a double allowance, but would 
always eat it up before Monday, and they could get nothing more 
until Monday evening. Every morning I carried my son a quart 
of milk, for which I paid fifty cents, and almost every morning a 
piece of meat, which was generally given to me by some kind 
friend. Occasionally I would buy ham, eggs, vegetables, fruit, 
&c., for him. For a small slice of ham, not as much as a hearty 
person would require for one meal, I would be obliged to pay 
fifty cents. Eggs, one dollar and fifty cents a dozen. For a small 

3 



18 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

chicken, two dollars and fifty cents. For blackberries, I paid not 
over one dollar, nor less than fifty cents a quart. For tomatoes and 
potatoes I paid the same, but I have seen potatoes sold for two 
dollars a quart Muskmelons, three dollars each. Watermelons, 
five dollars. Beets, twenty-five cents. Apples, twenty-five cents. 
For soap, I paid from one dollar to one dollar and fifty cents per 
pound. 

Sometimes, in compliance with my son's request, I would buy 
vegetables, fruit, meat, &c., only once or twice a week, and then get 
a sufiicient quantity for him to share with his room mates. Some- 
times things would be given to me for my son, and then I would 
be able to furnish them quite a good dinner. 

The prison was crowded to its utmost capacity, and most of the 
time there wer5 seven men in the small room with my son. 
Among his room mates there were, at different times, a Yankee 
lieutenant, a rebel captain, a rebel major and several inferior 
officers. At one time there was quite a celebrated lawyer in the 
room. Men of this class were generally not retained very long. 
They would manage some way to get released. In two instances 
large sums of money were to my certain knowledge, paid into 
General Winder's office to avoid coui-t martials and to procure 
releases. 

The Yankee lieutenant, who had been a paroled prisoner of war 
and had broke his parole, and a lawyer who had been conscripted, 
were in the room with my son most of the time he was confined. 

The rebel captain and the major had also been conscripted, 
but upon being conscripted they pretended to enter the rebel semce 
willingly. For some reason they were not sent off to a company 
as the mass of rebel conscripts were, but they were employed to go 
about the country to muster men for the service. One of them, as 
soon as he had mustered a sufficient number of men for a company, 
was made captain. The other was so successful that he soon 
mustered several companies, and he was made major of the united 
companies, which formed a battalion. 

Finally a charge was brought against the captain for mustering 
men into his company whom he knew had deserted from other com- 



FOUK YEARS IN SECESSIA. _ 19 

panics. The major was charged with the same crime, and in 
addition to that he was charged with having assisted deserters 
through the the rebel Hnes. 

I need not tell you these men had much influence. Their object 
was to avoid a court martial. This they did avoid by paying large 
sums of money into General Winder's office. And they were 
released. 

Thus months wearily dragged along. Old comrades had been 
released, and new ones came in to take their places. Still my son 
was held in prison for no crime, but that of being faithful to his 
own country, our Glorious Union. 

Plan after plan had been concerted for the escape of himself 
and comrades, only to fail. Hope after hope had been cherished, 
only to be blighted, and I then learned in stern reality "how much 
the heart can bear." 

It really seemed to me that the Union troops did not half try 
to take the city, and that many of the people in the North, as well 
as the mass in the South, had through fear of the tyrants in 
Richmond, become blinded to their own interest. I wondered why 
the Union people in the North did not unite and determine to take 
Richmond, if for no cause but to release the prisoners who were 
perishing for want of the ordinary necessaries of life. 

Last May, 1863, it was reported that the Union cavalry had 
made a raid within the fortifications, only one mile and a half 
from Richmond ; that the Union army was near at hand ; that the 
Confederate troops were away in different sections of the country, 
and that the city would surely be taken. 

Jeff. Davis was at his house, sick from fright, occasioned by the 
bread riot which had taken place only a few weeks before. Some 
were so bold as to say that he would be caught in his lair. Then 
in order to conceal their true sentiments, they censured him be- 
cause he had sent the troops away and left the city undefended. 

The alarm was sounded through the streets. Every man and 
boy who was able to carry a gun, was, without respect to age, 
marched off to the Capitol Square, where the long roll was being 
sounded, formed into companies and sent to the fortifications. 



20 • FOUR YEAES IN SECESSIA. 

The horses were taken from the street cars, and all the horses in 
the city were pressed into the service. All the men who were 
employed on public works, and the convalescents in hospitals 
were formed into companies, and sent to assist in defending the 
city. New inducements were offered to the conscripts in Castle 
Thunder, and one full company was raised from that place. The 
Union soldiers on Belle Island made an effort to overpower the 
guard and effect their escape, and several of them were shot. 

The Union troops were hourly expected to be seen marching 
into the city. The next day an alarm was given, and it was said 
that they were coming up Main street, from the direction of Wil- 
liamsburg. I rushed to my room and locked myself up, fearing 
that this would prove as false as other similar alarms had been, 
and that I would, in my excitement, betray myself My window 
opened toward the Capitol Square, which was only a few yards 
distant, and in the direction from which it was said the " Yankees " 
were coming. Women and children were thronging the streets 
and the Square, on the tiptoe of excitement, with distended eyes 
and open mouths, to catch a glimpse of the " Yankees." I looked 
eagerly for the flag, and commenced singing the " Star Spangled 
Banner." 

Soon I heard martial music, but the air was not familiar to me. 
It was not the " Star Spangled Banner ; " it was not " Yankee 
Doodle ; " it was not the spirited music I expected to hear from 
the Union troops, marching into Eichmond. Presently I saw the 
head of the column. There they were, dressed in blue as I had 
never seen rebel soldiers dressed. It surely must be them ! But 
their march is forced and weary. I am breathless with suspense ! 
I do not see the flag ! Is that it ? Yes, there it is ! But I can 
scarcely see it in the distance, it is carried so low. Now I see it ! 
But what do I see ? Alas ! it is the vile, dirty rag of secession ! 

During all this excitement I was not permitted to see my son. 
I wrote to him every day, but I knew that my letters' must be 
read by the captain commanding the prison before they could be 
handed to him. All the men in his room had left, excepting the 
Yankee lieutenant, the lawyer, and himself They were locked up 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. .. 21 

in close confinement until the excitement subsided. It was truly 
affecting to witness the sympathy of these boys for each other, in 
connection with their long suffering. The little they had, they 
gladly shared in common with each other. The " Yankee," as he 
was termed at the prison, made friends even of some of the offi- 
cers of the prison, in spite of his being a •' Yankee," and fre- 
quently things were given to him. I was paying out my salary 
of forty dollars a month faster than I received it ; and I did every- 
thing in my power to keep up their spirits, and to induce them to 
continue to hope. Often did my heart sink, when I saw the hope 
vanish whicli I myself had inspired and entertained ; and as the 
warm weather advanced, and I saw that my son was gradually 
losing his health and spirits, I began to despair of ever getting 
him released. 

Finally, towards the last of July, 1863, a plan was concerted by 
some rebel officers, who had themselves been forced into the ser- 
vice, by which he was enabled to get out of prison, and to make 
his escape through the rebel lines. That night, and more especially 
the exact hour in which I knew that my son would attempt to 
escape from prison, I prayed as I had never prayed before. 

If I could tell the exact manner of his escape, it would, doubt- 
less, be interesting ; but this I cannot do, as it might possibly 
bring serious trouble upon those who assisted him. When ,he 
escaped from prison, a carriage was near by, waiting to drive him 
to a place of concealment, a few miles from Eichmond. At this 
place there were nearly or quite a hundred men. Some of them 
had been in Castle Thunder ; some of them had been sentenced to 
be shot ; many of them were anxiouslj' waiting opportunity to 
pass the lines ; others, who had families and property in the South, 
were tiying to remain, and keep out of clanger. 

The last time I saw my son, was at this place of concealment. 
He seemed more disheartened than I had ever known him before. 
If he escaped the detective officers, there was danger of his falling 
into the hands of the pickets ; and he knew very well that if he 
was caught, no earthly power could save him. I assure you I did 



22 FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 

not then put my trust in any power that belonged to earth, and I 
did not cease to pray. 

About this time the Union forces were advancing towards Cul- 
pepper. My son, with others, went to Culpepper, and I soon 
received a letter assuring me that they were safe. As time passed 
away and I heard nothing more, I began to feel confident that they 
were safe. But my son had admonished me not to leave Rich- 
mond before getting word from himself, and knowing positively 
that he had succeeded in passing the pickets. 

He was confident that he could, in some way, manage to get a 
letter to me, very soon after reaching the North ; and I did not 
feel quite sure of his safety until the last of October, when I 
received a letter from him, dated Washington, D. C, August 3d. 
Then, just as soon as I possibly could manage to leave the place 
where I was teaching without exciting suspicion, I went to Cul- 
pepper. There a man had been previously engaged to pilot me 
through the rebel lines. For this he was paid one hundred and 
twenty dollars in Confederate money. 

I had heard of so many outrageous deeds of cruelty and vio- 
lence being perpetrated, by furious demons, upon persons of intel- 
ligence and refinement ; I had seen such terrible suflering, caused 
by the blind, thoughtless, groundless, and foolish hatred which 
the rebels cherished towards the Yankees, not only as a nation, 
but as individuals ; and I had suffered such tortures, that I loathed 
the rebel country in my very soul, and I longed to see my own 
dear native hills once more. 

With my mental vision, I saw the incomparable scenery of the 
Hudson, the Genesee River, and the Niagara Falls, as I had seen 
them in the days of my youth and prosperity. Then the sad, but 
subdued and softening vision of the dear departed friends who 
had cherished and directed me in those halcyon days, passed before 
me. And then I saw the dreadful change which had swept over 
our country within the last four years. I longed to see the Star 
Spangled Banner ; to hear our good old national airs ; and, above 
all, I longed to see my own dear son in the land where he was then 
free, and where I hoped to have some influence with the people, 



3^3 

FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 23 

and even with the Government, which might have a tendency to 
induce them to be more united, vigorous, and determined in their 
efforts to put down the rebellion, and to send relief to those poor 
boys whom I had left starving and withering in prison. 

"While witnessing the sufferings of the prisoners and of the 
conscripts in Eichmond, and more especially while the plan was 
being concerted for my son to escape, I invoked the aid of Almighty 
God, and I solemnly vowed that I would, during tlie remainder of 
my days, exert all the power he would grant me, to assist in reliev- 
ing those who were in distress. I have never been permitted to 
speak to any of the Union prisoners of war, but I have frequently 
seen them brought into Eichmond ; I have also seen them on Belle 
Isle, in the James Eiver. I have many times passed by the Libby 
prison ; and I have seen and learned enough to know that their 
sufferings, from cruel treatment, hunger, and cold, are more terrible 
than I have yet heard them described. 

While my son was in prison, some few persons in authority 
were favorably inclined towards him. One who was high in 
power was in favor of making an exception in his case. One of 
the surgeons who examined him was also in favor of making an 
exception. He was reported by this surgeon to be a delicately- 
constituted youth, by no means fit for field service, but to possess 
good business qualifications. This, with a letter which was given 
me, did in process of time procure me the jDrivilege of calling at 
Jeff. Davis' office. I called many times. Several times I found 
the aids engaged in excited and spirited conversation. At one 
time, one of the men, whom I took to be one of the aids, was ad- 
vocating the hoisting of the "black flag." I had frequently heard 
it advocated by ignorant, hot-headed secessionists, but I had always 
believed that persons high in power possessed, at least, a little com- 
mon sense and refinement. But I found this secession bear blow- 
ing away at a terrible rate because Jeff. Davis had not prosecuted 
the war with more vigor, and with more cruelty to the " Yankees." 
He called the Yankees " cowardly dogs ; " and he said that if the 
President had made it known, when the war first commenced, that 



24 FOUR YEARS JN SECESSIA. 

every Yankee who was found on the Southern soil should be either 
shot or hung, the war would have ended long ago. 

On one occasion, a prisoner of some note had been brought in ; 
and in one of my calls a violent discussion was being held, quite 
a number of the " chivalry " advocating a summarj^ process of 
shooting, without even the apology of a coui-t martial. Whether 
this was adopted, I did not learn. 

In the early part of November, 1863, before I left Eichmond 
provisions had become so high, and the prices were advancing so 
rapidly, that a law was passed fixing the prices of provisions. 
Then commissioners were sent out into the country to search the 
farms, and compel persons having produce to bring it to market. 
These commissioners returned with reports, stating that the farmers 
had not a sufficient quantity of provisions to subsist themselves 
through the winter. 

A law was also passed about this time, making it a penitentiary 
ofi'ence to trade Confederate for Federal money ; or for selling 
goods any cheaper for Federal than for Confederate money. The 
people were asking themselves, " where is the freedom for which 
we have been so desperately struggling ?" 

Public opinion has changed in the South since the commence- 
ment of the war. Within the last few months, it has changed 
rapidly, and when I left Eichmond it was a common saying, " the 
Confederacy is about played out." 

Great precaution is taken by the rebel authorities to keep the 
people in ignorance. When I left Eichmond it was generally 
believed that all rebel deserters were forced into the Union army, 
as soon as they reached the North. 

In the spring of 1863, a few weeks before the Union cavalry 
raid within the fortifications, the famous bread riot occurred. It 
is said that some of the most respectable women of the city were 
among its leaders. At first they were only about twenty in num- 
ber, and they went only to provision stores and took what they 
needed, saying their children were perishing for the want of food. 
But their number was soon increased to several hundred, and 
those who fell in went into stores and shops and seized whatever 



FOUR YEARS IN SECESSIA. 25 

was most convenient. Thus the rioters rapidly increased. The 
city authorities were in a great dilemma. 

Order could not be restored by resorting to violent measures, 
because the rioters were the wives, mothers, sisters, (fee, of the 
men who belonged to the city battalions, and in case of any 
violent treatment to them, that battalion would be turned against 
the city. Finally, after a few hours of disorder, and lively excite- 
ment, the authorities by assuring the rioters that they should 
hereafter be abundantly supplied with food, succeeded in persuad- 
ing them to disperse and go to their homes. 

Since that time the families of soldiers who are not able to buy 
food, have drawn rations from the government. As soon as the 
rioters dispersed, the authorities, in violation of their pledge, had 
some of the leaders arrested and confined in prison. Some of them 
were in prison when I left. 

On the eve of my departure from Eichmond, I concluded that 
I would make an attempt to find myself a pair of shoes suitable 
for walking, as I feared the possibility of my being obliged to 
walk a long distance, and of my shoes giving out entirely before 
I could get through the lines. I knew just where I could get 
them for fifty dollars a pair, but I was going to try to get a pair 
for less than fifty dollars. 

Accordingly I commenced my search, which however, was not 
very extensive, as there were only a few stores in the city. 

I first went to the stores on IMain street. Any ladies' shoes ? 
No. Any boys' shoes ? No. Finally I at last found a pair of 
rough looking, ill shaped, but soft leather shoes, about two sizes 
too large for me, at the low price of thirty dollars. I had them 
bundled up, paid for and was otf in good spirits, thanking my 
stars because I had been so fortunate as to be able to find a pair 
of shoes for thirty dollars. 

On my way from Culpepper, I met with several hindrances, but 
with no real difiiculty. I rode all the way in a small one-horse 
wagon. At the Eappahannock river, I came near falling into the 
hands of the rebel pickets. Had I done so I would have been 



26 FOUR YEARS IX SECESSIA. 

taken back to Richmond and would, doubtless, have been kept in 
prison during the war. 

I came into tlic Union lines at Berlin, Mar^-land. Reported at 
the Provost Marshal's office, and was sent to headquarters at 
Harper's Ferry, There I was released from custody and per- 
mitted to come on to Washington. At Washington I learned that 
my sou had been sent to Philadelphia. From Philadelphia he 
went to Boston. He there joined the Union army, and is now 
with his company in New Orleans. 

I have thus, ladies and gentlemen, endeavored in my very im- 
perfect manner, to depict to joii my observations and sufferings 
during a residence of four years in Secessia. And I can only 
add my testimony to that of all who have had the opportunity of 
personally viewing the rise and progress of this ill-starred rebellion. 
It is emphatically a rebellion of aspirants — tyrants — men who are 
determined to rule or ruin. The mass of the people are not with 
them, — at least those who are refined or intellectual. 

True it is, and 'tis pity "tis true, there is great need of the school 
master here. But I am confident that the people of the South 
are now rapidly awakening from the delusion forced upon them 
by their ambitious leaders, and the day is not far distant when we 
shall, as of yore, rejoice in one Country— one Union — one Flag! 



s 



RD-9* 



TESTIMOjSTIALS. 



The following is a copy of a letter from Rev. Samuel Aaron, Baptist 
Clergyman in Mount Holly: 

The bearer of this is Mrs. E. C. Kent, a native of the State of New 
York, a resident for several years in Mississippi, and recently a refugee 
from Richmond. She is a lady of refinement and education, and in con- 
nection with her son has suffered much on account of her attachment to 
human liberty and the Union. 

Last evening she read in the Baptist Meeting House, very effectively, to 
two hundred persons, the most intelHgent in this place, a well written and 
touching narrative of the adventures and sufferings of herself and son. 

He escaped last August, fi-om the thraldom of a Richmond prison, and 
she some months afterwards. He has enlisted in the Union army, and she 
wishes to see him in New Orleans, and to resume, in that place, her avoca- 
tion as a teacher of youth. 

If you think it best to aid her in getting a public hearing in your town, 
you will find her worthy of your help. 

She sits and reads with much propriety, and her whole deportment is, 
in my opinion, lady-like. She has good vouchers of character and 
standing. 

Your friend, very truh^, 

SAMUEL AARON. 



BuRUKGTox, Feb. 16th, 1864. 
To whom it may concern : 

The bearer of this is Mrs. E. C. Kent, a native of the State of New 
Yoi'k. Mrs. Kent is a recent refugee from Richmond. She read a lecture 
in the Baptist Church in this place last evening, embodying a narrative of 
her adventures in, and escape from the South, and also of the imprison- 
ment of her son in Castle Thunder, whence he subsequently escaped, and 
is now in the Union army. 

Mi's. Kent's narrative is well written, and was so well read that all pre- 
sent were very much pleased with it. She is a lady of intelligence, and 
has good vouchers of character and standing. 

KELSEY WALLING, Pastor. 
EDWARD HAAS, Principal, 
Of Public Schools 



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